PENSACOLA, Fla. (October 5, 2025) The Rollins men's tennis team took to the courts for the first time this fall as they traveled to Pensacola for the ITA South Regional hosted by West Florida this weekend.
The event began Thursday, with thirty doubles duos entering the fold for a one-day event. The Tars pair featured senior
Richard Stoiberer and junior
Nico de Giacomo, playing together for the first time in their illustrious Rollins careers. Stoiberer finished his 2024-25 season losing just three doubles matches over the final two months of the season, playing primarily from position #1. Meanwhile, de Giacomo entered Thursday's action with only four doubles matches under his belt across his entire time repping the Tars polo. Unfortunately, the pair fell 8-3 in the only set of play, to end the hope of a deep run in the main bracket prematurely. Still, that did not stop them from achieving success in the consolation round. The duo bounced back in their first consolation match defeating Valdosta State 8-4, before narrowing squeaking out wins over conference rival Florida Southern and regional foe, Lee University, winning 8-6 and 8-7 respectively. While the main bracket may not have gone their way, the pair showed incredible resolve, a tone set by head coach
Jay Friedman, to salvage a solid day for the Tars.
The singles event began Friday, with de Giacomo and Stoiberer taking the courts once more, accompanied by freshman
Lawson Prather. While Stoiberer fell in his first-round matchup 2-6, 1-6, de Giacomo and Prather both took home wins for the Tars on Friday morning. Each secured 6-3, 6-4 and 7-6, 7-6 victories, respectively, in the afternoon session to advance to Saturday's round of 16. For Prather, the gritty, tie-breaking wins in both sets of match one, did not slow him down for his second tilt of the day, as he defeated Mississippi College's Matias Ruiz 6-4, 6-3 to advance.
Nico de Giacomo showed similar resolve in his second session. Falling behind one set to none, the junior rallied to take set two before grinding out the tie breaker 10-5 in set three.
Saturday's action featured all three Tars once again. Courtesy of the consolation bracket, Stoiberer had another chance to advance, but his day wrapped up after a loss in the opening match, 5-7, 3-6. Meanwhile, de Giacomo fell in the round of 16 in the main bracket, dropping his match 1-6, 3-6. But Prather kept the Tars' spirits alive. The freshman, participating in his first ever collegiate matches for the Tars, took home his third W of the weekend defeating Florida Southern's Mario Garoz 6-4, 6-1. The victory punched a ticket to the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, that is where Prather's journey would end with a defeat at the hands of West Alabama's Matias Iturbe – the same formidable opponent that took down Stoiberer in round one.
After a productive weekend, the Rollins men's tennis squad will take the courts one more time this fall for the Varner Double Dual on the Lake. The event will take place right here in Winter Park, at the Tennis & Golf Center from October 24
th-26
th. The site will officially be opened one day prior with an induction ceremony. Be sure to come out to root on the Tars and check out the beautiful, state of the art facility!
